Lions must put pieces back together
Some gameday notes and observations while wrapping up the longest home season in Penn State history: The last time Penn State endured such a disheartening loss a week prior to Senior Day was 1999 when the Nittany Lions were shocked by Minnesota, 24-23, on a Hail Mary pass and a last-second field goal. Longtime blue-and-white followers remember what happened from there: Penn State ended the regular season with three straight losses and took until 2005 to fully recover, if it really ever has. Though the timing of Minnesota in ’99 and Ohio State last week — both late-season losses that blew up the best of postseason scenarios — occurred in Week No. 10, that’s kind of where the similarities end. The 1999 team was rolling along at 9-0, loaded with talent (LaVar Arrington-Courtney Brown-Brandon Short), ranked No. 2 in the country and headed for a matchup with Florida State for the national championship.
» Full StoryRudel: Nits have chance to make statement
Most people seem to think today’s Big Ten showdown between Penn State and Ohio State will be another low-scoring, defensive struggle.
I’m not one of them.
Penn State report card
Following is Neil Rudel’s report card from Penn State’s 34-13 win over Northwestern Saturday at Ryan Field:
POSITION GRADE COMMENT
Quarterback A Despite wind, Clark was accurate,...
Breaking the streak
There’s an eight-page feature story on Joe Paterno in this week’s Sports Illustrated that includes a great picture that makes him look closer to 62 than 82.
As if he needs another jinx.
Rudel: Gophers typically give PSU problems
They say it’s not a rivalry until the other guy wins, but that’s not necessarily the case with Minnesota.
Oh, the Gophers have won against Penn State. They’ve won all right.
Rudel: Second half of 2009 will define Nittany Lions
UNIVERSITY PARK — In his assessment of the Nittany Lions’ 52-3 win over Eastern Illinois, Joe Paterno admitted what many suspected all week long.
“I think it was a good workout for us,” he said Saturday.
A “workout” indeed.
Neil Rudel Poll
Who will have the better season, the Pitt men's basketball team or the PSU men's team?
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